The development history of ancient mirrors in China

Bronze mirror is a mirror made of copper in ancient times. Bronze mirror, also known as bronze mirror. Mr. Zhou, a member of China Collectors Association, recorded in "Wuling Treasures": In ancient times, people looked at each other with water. After the invention of bronzes, they took photos with copper pots filled with water. In the pre-Qin works such as Shangshu, Guoyu and Zhuangzi, it is mentioned that the ancients thought water. Shuo Wen Jie Zi and Shuo Wen Jie Zi interpret Jane as a basin, so it can be said that a basin (Jane) filled with water is the earliest mirror. With the appearance of alloying technology, the history of making bronze mirrors with copper and tin or silver and lead began. Bronze mirrors are generally made into a round or square shape, with inscriptions and patterns cast on the back and buttons for threading, and the front is polished with lead and tin to make it clear. A small bronze mirror with a history of more than 4,000 years, unearthed from the tombs of Qijia culture, is relatively primitive in shape and decoration, and should be the earliest known bronze mirror in archaeological data. Bronze mirrors in Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period were found sporadically, and they became popular in the Warring States Period, and the output increased greatly. In the Han Dynasty, due to the large demand of daily life and the rapid economic prosperity after the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, the production of bronze mirrors made a qualitative leap. The bronze mirror has excellent technology, thick texture and rich inscriptions on the back of the mirror. After two development peaks in the Tang and Song Dynasties, to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the birth of modern glass, bronze mirrors gradually faded out of the historical stage.

In ancient times, bronze mirrors were closely related to people's daily life and were indispensable daily necessities. Bronze mirrors are exquisite handicrafts. It is well-made, beautifully shaped, with gorgeous patterns and rich inscriptions, and is a treasure in the ancient cultural heritage of China. The ancient mirror means big basin, which is called prison. Shuowen said: "The prison can take the water of the bright moon, so it is a mirror because it can go smoothly." At the beginning of the Three Dynasties, the prison was made of tile, so there was no gold beside the word prison in ancient times. In the early years of Shang dynasty, bronze swords were cast, and later the characters of the swords also had gold characters. In Shang and Zhou dynasties, although there were bronze mirrors, tile mirrors were still popular. It was not until the Qin Dynasty that bronze mirrors were cast. Because mirrors were better than mirrors in many aspects, water was no longer used as mirrors after the Qin Dynasty. After the Qin and Han Dynasties, mirrors were used more widely and made better. Its materials include gold, silver, copper, iron and so on. , with copper as the most, gold-plated silver, gold and silver on the back, or inlaid with gold and silver wires. Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there have been various patterns with handles and squares. It was not until the late Ming Dynasty that glass was used as a mirror. After Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, glass became popular among the people. Until the early years of the Republic of China, a few remote areas still used copper as a mirror.